A couple of future stars returned to the trials and made an impact this week. More below, but they'll be worth following. Updated Black Book at the end of the article as per usual. Good luck!
SHEPPARTON 17/10/19
Trial 1: - GALACTIC GAL settled sixth on the outside (1-2) and moved around to park without cover at the 900m mark. She dashed to the lead coming out of the back straight and was able to hold her rivals at bay, seemingly with something in reserve. The trotter JACKSON SQUARE settled three back on the markers and worked into the clear at the half mile marker. He was able to duck in behind GALACTIC GAL for a breather before heading into the sprint lane and finishing off nicely. HOLSTEIN (Major Bronski – Havilah Mistress) trialled well again for third after he was given a lovely trip in the one out and one back trail. He probably didn’t perform as well as the week earlier but his effort was still sound. CONCORDE DAWN settled four back on the markers and finished a distant fourth ahead of SASSCILIAN (Maffioso – Sass And Bling) (1-3). MISS CRACKER (Cracker Black – Cosmic Major) (6th), PEDRO (7th) and AJAYS RACER (8th) all went hard into the first bend with MISS CRACKER taking the lead from PEDRO and AJAYS RACER (P B Bullville – Globes Mistake 2.3.2, $67,450) being forced to race in the death seat. They all yielded ground in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Final Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 1m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Galactic Gal
Trial 2: - SAN CARLO was able to gain some standing start experience in a lead up to the New Zealand Cup. He stepped safely and found the lead but it was a steady start to the affair. YERRINGTON BOB trailed SAN CARLO and got along the sprint lane to defeat the Kilmore Cup champion but SAN CARLO was under a strong hold. WALKAMILEINMYSHOES was last of the three runners throughout in what was mere a training exercise for the three runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.7 Final Half: - 61.7 Margins: - Head, 1m
Trial 3: - HIGHLAND HILL settled three back on the markers before moving into the one out and one back trail at the 700m mark. He moved up to hit the lead approaching the home turn and ran away to win easily. POCKETFULLOFCASH remained approximately 15m behind the mobile as the starter released the field before working up into the breeze and taking on the early leader KEPT MY WORD from the half mile marker. He got the better of KEPT MY WORD but broke stride on the home turn. He got back into stride quickly and was able to finish second. SEVERE STORM finished third after trailing the leader. RIGHT MOVES (The Best Madrik – Right Interest 1.59.7, $202,096) put in a big performance after galloping at the start and losing a lot of ground early. She is beautifully bred and obviously has ability. KEPT MY WORD dropped back to fifth but beat home PATCHWORK (4 back markers) and DANCES, which galloped at the start and then again in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Final Half: - 61.7 Margins: - 15m, 5m
Trial 4: - ROCKINFEELGOOD trailed the leader ROCKON LOCKSLEY and started to race keenly approaching the bell lap. He was still able to produce a good finish as he left the back of the leader on the home turn and sprinted away to win comfortably. COURAGEOUS LEO settled three back on the markers and never left the inside. He used the sprint lane to grab ROCKON LOCKSLEY on the line. ALPE DE HUEZ settled last of the five and circled around the tiring SAMMARI with 600m remaining. He was given a quiet trial and finished off nicely late without being extended. SAMMARI dropped out and saw all of the runners were safely home.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Final Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 6m, 3m
OUYEN 20/10/19
Trial 1: - WATCHMEDANCE (A Rocknroll Dance – Victoria Bound 1.58.2, $22,519) is a close relation to two winners including the honest mare Bella Cullen (2.0.1, $88,821). She comfortably won the opening trial from the Allan MacDonald trained SHE SAID YES with SHADYS PURSUIT in third position. NO EMOTION (Grinfromeartoear – Sokysokylala 2.3.6, $1,859) is an unraced qualifier for trainer Alan Peters and ended up being last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.0 Final Half: - Not given Margins: - 10m, 1m
Trial 2: - Only two horses contested the final trial with the bold front running mare HEATHBERN ELIMAY, a recent acquisition for trainer Scott Garraway and fifth first up for the stable at Mildura, winning the event over CELEBRITA, which hasn’t started since June.
Mile Rate: - Not given Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - Not given
KYABRAM 20/10/19
Trial 1: - Trainer Glenn Freeman dominated the Kyabram trial by training the quinella. The winner was STARRY MACH, which won a race during his juvenile season at Swan Hill in a sizzling mile rate of 1.55.0 and only had the one start last term. He defeated MISTER ZHIVAGO, which has a National Rating of 65, by six metres so STARRY MACH obviously performed very well. DESPONDENT finished close up in third position. MIGHTY BIG BOY was fourth and the unraced gelding ARGY BARGY (Artistic Fella – Global Village 1.58.5, $51,019) took on quite a handy field and finished in fifth.
Last Mile: - 2.5.3 Final Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 6m, neck
COBRAM 20/10/19
Trial 1: - SAMMARI found the class of the Cobram trial to be easier than her Shepparton trial performance a few days earlier and was able to claim victory. THATSWHATSHESAID, which has only had a few local runs since coming from Tasmania finished in second with BIGJIMVALENTINE (Well Said – Jazzee Valentine 1.59.5, $45,086), a close relation to the classy performers Brighty Valentine (1.54.8) and Alpha Charlie (1.54.9), being in third position. GET ME OUTTA HERE was fourth in front of MUCHOS HOMBRES, which has been racing well at Shepparton recently, and TEENY WEENY (Highview Tommy – Shadow Cat), a daughter of former Ballarat Cup winner Highview Tommy, finished last of the six runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Final Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 2m, 5m
MELTON 21/10/19
Trial 1: - THE HERVEY BAY has come back from a break in good form and followed a nice trial effort a week earlier with a victory over the speedy open class pacer LOVE INA CHEVY. NOTA REPLICA has also shaped up very nicely at the trials over the past two weeks and should go well first up. CARMY DAN was a close up fourth in front of SUPALINER.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Final Half: - 58.41 Margins: - Head, Short ½ Head
Trial 2: - It was a slowly run trial but the former New South Wales prepared pacer RUBY DELIGHT, which is now with trainer Geoff Webster, won the trial by a narrow margin from WONDERFORCE. SUN PEAKS, which has returned from a one start campaign in New South Wales, finished in third position. DEAL BREAKER was fourth in front of SHESASTANDOUT.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.6 Final Half: - 58.28 Margins: - ½ head, 2.5m
Trial 3: - JUSTICE SERVED worked past BAO NIEN to find the front and raced keenly throughout. It appeared as though BAO NIEN was going to win the trial with 100m remaining but JUSTICE SERVED kicked back gamely to hold on. MISSCHANEL settled last of the four runners and never left the markers. She finished third in front of UNION FORCE, which raced three back on the inside before leaving the makers at the 600m and yielding ground shortly afterwards.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.4 Final Half: - 58.91 Margins: - 1.5m, 6m
Trial 4: - POWER OF FAITH worked to the lead with 1600m remaining and set up a moderate tempo. He had a good kick left at the finish and scored comfortably. FIGHTING FIRE (Roll With Joe – Arivee 1.59.3, $83,953) raced keenly throughout. He settled five back on the inside then gained the one out and one back trail from the 800m. He finished off well out wide on the track to pick up second. IDEALLY AMERICAN (American Ideal – Snug Harbour) finished third after leading out then taking cover behind POWER OF FAITH. SNAZOLA (Tell All – Jackieola) came from last to pick up fourth in front of JUMPSTART (Village Jolt – Lifesaver Lady 2.1.8, $6,550) and HAVEACHAT finished last after racing three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Final Half: - 59.22 Margins: - 3m, 8.5m
Trial 5: - NEEDABACARDI was given a break after a career best victory at Melton where he posted a mile rate of 1.57.0 on August 16. He dashed home in handy final sectionals to defeat MADENA SKY with the nicely bred trotter MATADEROS in third. HEDGE YOUR BET was in fourth ahead of the unraced qualifier BOISSY SAINT LEGER (Repeat Love – Another Starlet), which struck a very tough field.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Final Half: - 59.30 Margins: - 2m, 10m
Trial 6: - MADENA BAY stepped away from the standing start very quickly and established a lead of approximately 30m in the early stages of the event. He set up a slow speed throughout and had too much speed for his rivals in the dash up the straight. AVIMORE showed ability at the trials at his last preparation but he couldn’t put it altogether on race day. He galloped hopelessly at the start and settled down a clear last. The slow pace helped his cause but he finished off very nicely for an eye-catching second. JADE NIEN also galloped at the start and lost approximately 40m to settle just in front of AVIMORE. She finished on well but not as fast as AVIMORE late. HALLOFASUDDEN (Angus Hall – Galleons Surprise $28,062) stepped away reasonably and ended up in a distant second behind MADENA BAY. He used the slow speed to catch up to MADENA BAY but he was swamped by AVIMORE and JADE NIEN in the latter stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.13.1 Final Half: - 61.6 Margins: - 6m, ½ Neck
BLACKBOOKER: Avimore
BENDIGO 21/10/19
Trial 1: - ITS ELVIS began quickly from the standing start and found the lead. CLARKES HILL began safely and began to draw across out wide on the track but it was obvious that ITS ELVIS was not going to take cover so he ducked back in behind to trail the leader. ITS ELVIS kicked well clear on the home turn and proved too good for CLARKES HILL, which wasn’t really extended in second position. SOMBOMBA and MISTER CHISHOLM were third and fourth throughout but weren’t too far away from CLARKES HILL at the finish.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - 7m, Head
Trial 2: - JEDSTAR (Imperial Count – Tangalan Jack 2.5.6, $43,090) stepped away best in what was a slow beginning to the standing start trial. FETCH IT quickly moved up on the outside and grabbed the lead going around the first bend. MY LINDY ANGELS (Bacardi Lindy – My Two Angels) settled down third with SNEAKIN AROUND in fourth. FETCH IT and JEDSTAR got away approaching the home turn with JEDSTAR finding plenty via the sprint lane to run to victory. There wasn’t much separating MY LINDY ANGELS and SNEAKIN AROUND for third and fourth with MY LINDY ANGELS galloping just prior to the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.7 Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - 5m, 20m (approximately)
Trial 3: - FRESCO BROMAC began quickly and worked past the early leader FEISTY PHOEBE (Modern Art – Apple Sorbet) to run to the top. She set up a reasonable tempo and was able to hold her rivals at bay. FEISTY PHOEBE went back to the sprint lane in the straight and momentarily appeared to be a chance but she couldn’t peg back the margin. VAPAR ROCKS (Pet Rock – Our Christine Cullen) settled in third position and came to the outside approaching the home turn. He didn’t appear to be comfortable going around the final corner at speed but he boxed on for third. The remainder of the field lost contact with the leading trio as DINO BELLINO, which was four back on the markers, started to yield ground. UNION LIZ, which trailed DINO BELLINO did the best of the rest with EMIJAY (6 back markers) and DRIFFING (Grinfromeartoear – Our Tatiana) (7 back markers) also working past DINO BELLINO in the latter stages.
Margins: - 2.2.6 Final Half - Not Given Margins: - 5m, 3m
Trial 4: - SAVE OUR PENNYS was clearly the class horse of the trial and he was able to score after dropping back to last before moving into the death seat in the final circuit. MAR PACIFICO settled three back on the markers before angling onto the back of SAVE OUR PENNYS with 600m remaining. He hit the line strongly and for a trotter in the lower grade taking on much tougher opposition, it was a very good performance. IONA SPIDER was third after being headed off early then moving around to lead with just over a mile remaining. ROBBIE ZUVE showed good gate speed to lead then took cover before dropping out to be last of the four.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - Head, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Mar Pacifico
Trial 5: - BELLA BRONSKI led out before taking cover behind LET’S GO LENNY with 1100m left to travel. She was held up for a run at a vital stage before accelerating nicely via the sprint lane and winning by a good margin. RINGER RUSS settled three back on the markers before moving into the one out and one back trail with 900m remaining. He came out three horses wide on the turn and looked the winner until BELLA BRONSKI shot along the sprint lane late. SHEZA CHOCOLATIER (Art Major – Highview Ember 1.53.3, $122,798) raced without cover for the majority of the trial and finished third in front of WIPE THE CANVAS (Art Major – Wenona Maggie 1.58.9, $23,856), which is the first of the new season juveniles to head to the trials. LET’S GO LENNY (Modern Art – Milly Jasper) tired into fifth and VALKYRIE (Art Major – Our Chelsea Girl 2.2.4, $45,261), another juvenile and stable mate of WIPE THE CANVAS, finished in sixth position after settling second last on the markers. HANDWRITER (Sportswriter – Perfect Katie 1.55.6, $130,363) was last for the majority of the journey and saw the field safely home.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Final Half: - Not given Margins: - 4m, Head
Trial 6: - IM SHADOW BOXER has performed well at the trials over the past two weeks and he swept down the outside from four back on the markers to impressively beat a handy field. CULLENS LEGEND trailed the leader BONZA GUY and moved away from the markers at the 300m mark. He couldn’t repel the challenge of IM SHADOW BOXER but battled gamely for second. PLAYING THE ACE settled three back on the markers and was held up for a run at a vital stage before finishing strongly out wide on the track for third. BONZA GUY finished fourth after setting the speed but he did kick back strongly after being headed with 300m remaining. SIXTY settled last before moving into the breeze with 1400m remaining. He hit the lead before the home turn but peaked late beating only NUREYEV (5 back markers, 1-1) to the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.4 Final Half: - Not given Margins: - 2m, 3m
Trial 7: - TIGER FOR LIFE showed very good gate speed to lead and was always in control of the trial. He dashed well clear on the home turn and held a good advantage down the front straight. SAMS A YANK (Muscles Yankee – Flash and Flair) settled down three back on the markers and eventually moved into the one out and one back trail in the back straight on the final occasion. He finished on quite well out wide on the track to pick up second in front of BLIS VALLEY, which raced without cover for the final circuit. VINCENT KAI settled down last and moved up without cover at the 1600m mark before gaining the trail behind the leader when JUST OSCAR galloped and vacated that position. He ran fourth and JUST OSCAR was last after galloping again in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - 12m, long head (approximately)
Trial 8: - VAPAR JACK trailed the early leader THREE SHADOWS before slipping around to find the front with a lap remaining. He then held an advantage down the straight to win by a metre. LILBITACHAILATTE settled down last of the four and followed TRYNA PORTRAY for most of the trial before swinging wide into the straight. He finished well to pick up second with TRYNA PORTRAY using the sprint lane in third. THREE SHADOWS began yielding ground at the 700m mark and finished at the tail of the field.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Final Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 1m, 2m
BALLARAT 22/10/19
Trial 1: - SHESSKYLAH led throughout to take out the first trial but she was driven out to the line where JILLIBY GILMORE (A Rocknroll Dance – Jilliby Pleasure 2.2.8, $3,621), which settled three back on the markers, and FLYHIGHTANNER (trailed leader) both appeared to have something left at the finish. ROLLINJACKSRAINBOW (Roll With Joe – My Pacific Rainbow 2.0.0, $24,803) wasn’t far away in fourth after being four back on the markers throughout. MISSBLISSFULLBEACH (Blissfull Hall – Oursandybeach 1.59.6, $102,719), ETERNAL PEACE (Dawn ofa New Day – Angola) and SUMMERTIME were fifth, sixth and seventh respectively throughout the entire trial and they dropped off the back of the leading quartet.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Final Half: - 56.5 Margins: - Head, 5m
Trial 2: - OUR NOTORIOUS ONE (Western Terror – Galleons Bud) pushed forward to find the lead from JILLIBY TAMEKA shortly after the start. He kicked well clear on the home turn but DELWYNS SON came from the one out and two back position and sailed down the outside. He finished off with plenty of momentum and grabbed victory on the line from OUR NOTORIOUS ONE with GO JO JOLT coming from three back on the markers to pick up JILLIBY TAMEKA for third and fourth. JAY JAY SHADY pulled hard without cover but managed to beat home FOR TONY (1-1), LAST WALK (five back markers) and MISS OPIE (4 back markers).
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Final Half: - 57.40 Margins: - 2m, 10m
Trial 3: - SOMEWHERE SECRET trailed the leader KEAYANG SECRET and proved superior in the straight as he came to the outside and swept on past. He hasn’t started since a third in the Eastern Challenge back in March but he appeared to be very sharp at the finish. ROCKNROLL RONNIE was three back on the markers throughout and dropped off a touch late. SHES FINE was without cover in the early stages then eased back to be last of the four and that is where she remained.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.3 Final Half: - 54.7 Margins: - 3m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: - Somewhere Secret
Trial 4: - The field remained in the same order from the start and with the times being carved out by the leader JILLIBY CHEVY, it was only the outstanding pacer RIDE HIGH to move away from the markers at any stage of the event and that was at the end to try and issue a challenge. JILLIBY CHEVY just held off RIDE HIGH but both horses performed brilliantly. LIKE A WILDFIRE beat home FAKE SMILE and BETTOROCKBETTOROLL in what will be an outstanding form line in the weeks ahead.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.7 Final Half: - 53.0 Margins: - 1m, 12m
BLACKBOOKERS: - Jilliby Chevy, Ride High
Trial 5: - A JEWEL IN THE CROWN won the final trial by leading throughout over CORK. A JEWEL IN THE CROWN did show ability last preparation and her manners let her down but she looked pretty good in winning and CORK has been trialling well at Maryborough in recent weeks.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.9 Final Half: - 58.4 Margin: - 10m
Black Book: Horses to Follow
Arden Voyager
Avimore
Crocrock
Esterna
Galactic Gal
Have Ago Joe
Jilliby Chevy
Long Weekend
Longnwindingroad
Mar Pacifico
Miracle Marcus
Queen of Diamonds
Rhythm And Grace
Ride High
Segesta
Somewhere Secret
Thedevilindisguise
Van Sank